Azhar Ali finds form; Fawad Khan slams rapid ton

The round started without high-profile players such as Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Amir, Nasir Jamshed, and Yasir Shah , who had all been released to play in the Bangladesh Premier League. National Bank of Pakistan, who drew with Water and Power Development Authority, continued to top Pool B with 33 points, while United Bank Limited lead Pool A with 32 points. FATA, though, are yet to break their duck this season, with two losses and three draws in five matches.

Azhar Ali, Pakistan's ODI captain made his first hundred of the season, setting up SNGPL's innings-and-119-run win against Port Quasim Authority after a shouldering some heavy workload in international cricket in the last three months. Azhar struck 15 fours, shaking off the rust accumulated during the England series.

Fawad Khan, the FATA captain, gave his team something to cheer about as he struck a century before lunch on the first day against Lahore Whites, a rare feat in the competition. Fawad played 46 first-class games for Abbottabad before joining FATA in 2013. However, he made his debut for FATA only this year. He had also played one match for North West Frontier Province.

Mohammad Amir-less Sui Southern Gas Corporation managed to salvage a draw after being asked to follow on by United Bank Limted, who posted 514 on the back of five half-centuries. Sui Southern Gas were bowled out for 244 in the first innings but showed more fight in the second dig, opener Babar Azam showing the way with 90. The side is placed third in the Pool A table, with one win and four draws. Amir, who had been released to play for Chittagong Vikings in the BPL, is likely to miss at least two more rounds.